As is the case in most cities, the best places to eat, drink and shop for that scarce or exotic ingredient are rarely on the most trampled thoroughfares and Brisbane is no exception. More often than not the most ambient bar, breakfast hotspot, coffee hole-in-the-wall, funky cafe, quaint tea shop or intimate gem of a restaurant with a quirkily brilliant atmosphere and serving top notch food will be off a side street, under a bridge, a lone corner or some other unlikely place.

The exception are Brisbane's pubs, the majority of good ones being iconic historic buildings that are landmarks on the cityscape. And when it comes to finding that deli item, organic outlet or specialty food it can be even harder, with at times only a few places across town to choose from, which is why we are on a perpetual hunt to bring them out of hiding.